Lawyers for a man who killed a young mother and seriously injured her 15-week-old baby when he hit them with his car has pleaded with a court to impose a suspended sentence.

Gardaí believe Anthony Handley, 64, went into “a micro sleep”, as he was driving within the speed limit towards Balbriggan.

His off-road jeep veered off the road and hit the two victims near Balbriggan in January 2014.

Judge Patrick McCartan said he will impose sentence at 2pm after he heard the evidence this morning.

Olivia Dunne, 31, was killed instantly by the impact.

Éabha Dunne was thrown from her pram and landed underneath the jeep in her cot.

She had multiple broken bones and would have died if she did not receive medical attention, the court heard.

She was in a coma afterwards and continues to suffer the effects of her injuries.

A victim impact statement heard that many of the Dunne family members lived nearby and were on the scene within minutes.

Handley, of Whitethorn Grove in Artane, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Olivia Dunne and serious bodily harm to Éabha Dunne in Balbriggan on 17 January 2014.